1 John 1:8

BSB · Public Domain (CC0)

“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”

What this verse means

A short, plain-language explanation of 1 John 1:8 goes here — the kind of answer a reader (or an AI assistant) can quote in one breath. Original meaning coming soon.

Compare translations
BSBPD

“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”

Berean Standard Bible · Public Domain (CC0)
KJVPD

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”

King James Version · Public Domain
ASVPD

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”

American Standard Version · Public Domain
YLTPD

“if we may say--`we have not sin,' ourselves we lead astray, and the truth is not in us;”

Young's Literal Translation · Public Domain
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Cross references

Other passages that echo 1 John 1:8 — 24 related verses from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  1. Leviticus 13:12But if the skin disease breaks out all over his skin so that it covers all the skin of the infected person from head to foot, as far as the priest can see,
  2. 1 Kings 8:46When they sin against You—for there is no one who does not sin—and You become angry with them and deliver them to an enemy who takes them as captives to his own land, whether far or near,
  3. 2 Kings 20:15“What have they seen in your palace?” Isaiah asked. “They have seen everything in my palace,” answered Hezekiah. “There is nothing among my treasures that I did not show them.”
  4. 2 Chronicles 6:36When they sin against You—for there is no one who does not sin—and You become angry with them and deliver them to an enemy who takes them as captives to a land far or near,
  5. Job 9:2“Yes, I know that it is so, but how can a mortal be righteous before God?
  6. Job 14:4Who can bring out clean from unclean? No one!
  7. Job 15:14What is man, that he should be pure, or one born of woman, that he should be righteous?
  8. Job 25:4How then can a man be just before God? How can one born of woman be pure?
  9. Psalms 143:2Do not bring Your servant into judgment, for no one alive is righteous before You.
  10. Proverbs 20:9Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am cleansed from my sin”?
  11. Ecclesiastes 7:20Surely there is no righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.
  12. Isaiah 53:6We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all.
  13. Isaiah 64:6Each of us has become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.
  14. Jeremiah 2:22Although you wash with lye and use an abundance of soap, the stain of your guilt is still before Me,” declares the Lord GOD.
  15. Romans 3:23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
  16. 1 Corinthians 3:18Let no one deceive himself. If any of you thinks he is wise in this age, he should become a fool, so that he may become wise.
  17. Galatians 6:3If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
  18. 1 Timothy 6:5and constant friction between men of depraved mind who are devoid of the truth. These men regard godliness as a means of gain.
  19. 2 Timothy 3:13while evil men and imposters go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
  20. James 1:22Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves.
  21. James 1:26If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless.
  22. James 3:2We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to control his whole body.
  23. 2 Peter 2:13The harm they will suffer is the wages of their wickedness. They consider it a pleasure to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deception as they feast with you.
  24. 1 John 1:6If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

Cross-reference data: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain) via OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0).

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